Ann S. Bisconti, PhD Bisconti Research, Inc. [email protected] Why Public Opinion about Nuclear Energy is Changing.

Ann S. Bisconti, PhDBisconti Research, Inc.

[email protected]

Why Public Opinion about Nuclear Energy is Changing

Buzz: Nuclear Energy is “Cool”

So Nuclear Energy is Cool

• This is a big change • What’s behind the change?

• How do people feel about building new nuclear power plants?

Public Opinion Surveys

• 23-year trends, latest Sept 2006

• National random samples of 1,000 U.S. adults age 18+

• Interviewed by phone

• Margin of error plus or minus three percentage points

Changing Attitudes

68% Now Favor Use of Nuclear Energy

20

40

60

80

1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006

Oppose

Favor

49

46

29

68

Changing Perceptions of Nuclear Power Plant Safety

0

25

50

75

1985 1987 1989 1991 1994 1997 2001 2003 2005 Sep-06

% Low Safety Rating (1-3)

% High Safety Rating (5-7)

50

32

22

60

All Regions Favor Use of Nuclear Energy

West66%

Midwest70%

Northeast70%

South67%

All Subgroups Favor Use of Nuclear

Energy

67

6877

6873

63

0 25 50 75 100

What’s Behind the Change?

Changing TimesChanging Times

EnergySupply

Oil and Gas Costs

Geopolitical Consequences

Climate Change/Clean Air

Energy Demand

High Awareness of Hearing About Nuclear Energy Topics in Past Year

44

47

49

58

0 20 40 60 80

Nuclear for global warming

Need to build more nuclearpower plants

Buzz About New Nuclear Power

Buzz About New Nuclear Power

Nuclear Industry Communicating More Actively

Workforce Engaged

What about New Nuclear Power Plants?

Prepare to build

76%

Definitely build

63%

Renew licenses

83%

NEI Poll, September 2006:Public Support for Nuclear Power Plants

3 National Polls in 2006: 61-63% Favor Building More Nuclear Power Plants or

Using More Nuclear Energy

63

61

63

0 25 50 75

Bri Poll in September (build

more)

LA Times Poll in August (use

more)

BBC Poll in June (build more)

Majorities Said New Reactor Acceptable at Nearest Plant Site

7

25

68

0 20 40 60 80

Don't know

Not

acceptable

Acceptable

National Survey in 2005 of Nuclear Power Plant

Neighbors

• Residents within 10-mile radius of plants

• 18 adults at each of the 64 sites

• 1,152 total • Electric company

employees excluded

87% of Plant Neighbors Have Favorable Impression of

Plant

10

87

3

3

7

27

60

0 25 50 75 100

Don't know

Very unfavorable

Somewhat unfavorable

Somewhat favorable

Very favorable

UNFAVORABLE

FAVORABLE

76% of Plant Neighbors Said New Reactor Acceptable

at Nearest Plant Site

2

22

76

0 25 50 75 100

Don't know

Not

acceptable

Acceptable

Determinants of Support

• Perception of need: energy for quality of life, less dependence on fossil fuels,

global warming

• Perception of nuclear energy’s benefits to meet the need

• For plant neighbors: familiarity

• For everyone: safety first

Electric Companies Planning for the Future

• Americans like planning for the future

• They like an energy mix• There is growing support for

nuclear energy • Steps toward about

30 new reactors• Preparing now for when she’s

10

Panel DiscussionClimate Change

and the

Pros and Cons of Nuclear Power

David Ropeik Jay Maisler Ann Bisconti Seth Kaplan

Alan Nogee

New Nuclear Power and Climate Change:

Issues and Opportunities

Thank you for Attending